Ventura Area Runners Keep Torch on Its Way

The Olympic theme blared. The flame danced in the breeze. And Michelle Riggs and Stephanie Kaiser kept their clearly tired arms aloft as they stood on the steps of Ventura City Hall on Thursday morning.

They had an important task--keeping the Special Olympics torch high and regal--and their sober faces reflected the pomp and circumstance such work summons.

They had just finished the last bit of a leg of the torch run, springing up the steps to City Hall to meet the waiting crowd.

At that moment, as the Olympic music swelled and the Ventura County Olympians stood proudly in front of their audience, it was clear: The torch had officially arrived.

The flame passed through 79 miles of Ventura County on Thursday, en route to the annual Southern California Special Olympics Summer Games.

Carried by county police officers and, on parts of the run, by some of the county’s 85 Special Olympians, the torch was to be passed to their Los Angeles County counterparts.

“Yeah, it’s exciting,” said Scott Menke, a Special Olympics basketball player who was among those accompanying the torch up California Street. “I ran up the hill, and it feels pretty good.”

County police raised $11,000 for the Special Olympics this year, selling T-shirts and waiting tables--badly, some of them admit--at a countywide tip-a-thon.

“In the police department, we celebrate heroes in special ways, with medals of honor and ceremonies. This is a chance for the Special Olympians to celebrate,” said Sheriff Bob Brooks. “They’ve overcome serious challenges.”

Ventura police officers planned to run an eight-mile leg before passing off the torch to Oxnard officers.

“We’re all in tiptop shape,” said Det. Bob MacInnes with a laugh.

“You’ll be reading the back of my T-shirt the whole way,” a fellow officer teased MacInnes.

The torch run began in San Luis Obispo and ends at Cal State Long Beach’s Pyramid Stadium for the Games’ opening ceremonies today.

Thursday’s Ventura County route began at Rincon Highway and wound down the coast to Oxnard, into Port Hueneme and down the coast to Malibu.

The Games last through the weekend and offer participants an opportunity for building self-esteem and a chance to make friends, said Chellis Rogers, interim director of Ventura County’s Special Olympics.

Rogers said she and her co-workers cry every year at the ceremonies. “It’s the spirit and excitement,” she said. “The kids have just given their all.”